Polk Theater
93-09 37th Avenue,
Jackson Heights,
NY
11372
93-09 37th Avenue,
Jackson Heights,
NY
11372
7 people
favorited this theater
Showing 76 - 100 of 178 comments found
Can someone please post a 1 line comment on the current status of the XXX movie houses in NYC.
Ahh… Got it. Thanks.
I cut and pasted that paragraph from a post by Alto on May 23, I was responding to his comment
RobertR… I think you contradicted yourself… Your opening statement says “no XXX movies were ever shown on the Fair’s main screen” and later the last paragraph opens with “The main auditorium of teh Fair always showed XXX until the city started cracking down…” I’m sure it’s a simple typo. Do you want to clarify?
One more thing: as far as I know, no XXX movies were ever shown on the Fair’s main screen, and ANY type of physical contact or sexual activity is closely monitored and STRICTLY forbidden in the main auditorium (or XXX screening rooms for that matter) – all “monkey business” is privately kept in the back booths, behind CLOSED doors (unlike the Polk, where it was “all going” in one big auditorium). As for the balcony, it has been closed to customers for quite some time.
The Kings Highway Cinema is similar to the Fair in its mixed-use configuration.
posted by Alto on May 23, 2006 at 8:48am
The main auditorium of the Fair always showerd XXX until the city started cracking down, the balcony was mobbed with customers cruising and having sex. Changing over the main auditorium was complying with the rule about only a portion of an establishment being sex related. The balcony was open at one point still with monitors but they were unable to stop the goings on so it was closed down totally.
I went to the Polk having discovered it here at this website about February, 2005. I went with a friend and I am so glad, because it was a true time warp and very interesting second floor antique ruins, but the theatre floor was pure suicide in feeling. I can vouch for the terrible quality VHS, and that was very tacky of the Voice not to report it properly (but they’re going down the drain anyway, firing all their best people in the last 2 years, some veterans of 40 years, really disgraceful that Goldstein, Ridgeway were fired, and Ward Harkavy reduced to a little clerkism, it sounds like, as for an ‘exciting merger’ scenario). I mainly decided to just add that the screen even looked filthy and the video was all pink-purple. This was one total slum of a place, fascinating but completely horrible. I have rarely seen any place so depressing.
Since we’re getting hung up on semantics here…
To give a precise picture of the types of theatres these are, I would call the Polk a “porn” theatre (in the strictest sense of the word) and the Fair an “adult” theatre because:
The Polk was single-screen and showed nothing but XXX.
The Fair’s main screen shows R-rated movies, and XXX is shown in a separate section of the building.
I would also describe the Fair as “adult” just based on the fact that minors are not allowed in.
One more thing: as far as I know, no XXX movies were ever shown on the Fair’s main screen, and ANY type of physical contact or sexual activity is closely monitored and STRICTLY forbidden in the main auditorium (or XXX screening rooms for that matter) – all “monkey business” is privately kept in the back booths, behind CLOSED doors (unlike the Polk, where it was “all going” in one big auditorium). As for the balcony, it has been closed to customers for quite some time.
The Kings Highway Cinema is similar to the Fair in its mixed-use configuration.
Charles Sandblom was also the architect of the treasured Harbor Theater in Brooklyn. A bit larger than the Polk, but wonderfully comfortable and attractive, the Harbor had been part of the Interboro hand-me-down-late-run circuit before turning independent and joining Premiere Showcase in the early ‘60s.
In Jackson Heights on 83 Street between Roosevelt and 37 Avenues, the Colony was another likewise comfortable and attractive late-run art deco theater. These theaters were great places to catch major-studio productions just before reaching their last sunsets.
What about the Playpen (former Cameo Theater) on 8th Avenue in Manhattan? Are they not doing the porn-video projection thing on thier main screen?
While the Fair is still a porn theater – since the adult fare in their private viewing booths and the small converted-from-retail-space screening rooms is what drives their business – Warren is accurate to point out that there is no longer any porn being projected on the theater’s “big screen”. Another bit of journalistic laziness on the part of the Voice writer.
Last July, I can’t remember what I discussed last week. I just couldn’t remember the name of the Cinart. At least the address for the Cinart is confirmed so something good came from my faulty memory. :)
“Lost Memory,” have you lost your memory? You were discussing this last July at the listing for the Cinart Theatre.
Thanks Robert. I couldn’t figure out what theater it was. You could probably use the 106 Court St address for the Cinart. This article mentions the Court Street Stadium 12 and the X-rated theater that once stood there.
It was called the Cinart
Speaking of porn theaters, I was looking for the Court Street Stadium 12 located at 108 Court St on here and I don’t see it listed on C.T. I know that isn’t a porn theater but I read that there was previously a porn theater located where the Court Street Stadium 12 now stands. Anyone know the name of that theater?
OK, so the main screen shows action double bills while people have sex in the seats and balcony and the smaller screeing rooms and private booths show XXX, your right that’s not a PORNO theatre. Sounds like just the place to take the family for a nice show.
The Fair in Jackson Heights is NOT a “porno” theatre. It shows action-adventure double bills.
non-film, I presume..?
we still have 2 here in vancouver (Fox and Venus) — 3rd one (Kitten) had building demolished or would still be going. all video/dvd by now
The Fair in Jackson Heights and Cinema Kings Highway in Brooklyn
The Voice article said the Polk was one of three theaters left showing porn on the big screen. What are the other two; I’d like to check them out before they close.
I hear ya' — I already wrote a “letter to ed” of V Voice to this effect, politely of course. don’t know if they print those rec’d online….
Thanks for clearing that up, Alto. DimitriosOtis, I guess I shouldn’t be so assuming as to a major publication’s journalistic integrity. If you ask me, it would have been even more interesting had the article played up the fact that the theater had stopped projecting film long ago and was using “tired old VHS equiment” as Alto refers to it. I find the implication that there was a projector (and that the projectors were over 50 years old) to be the result of journalistic laziness.
As for the box office cashier “Paola†(formerly “Paoloâ€, no doubt), I honestly thought that she was a drag queen! That was one ugly broad, with a snippy attitude to match.
That whole place was a nightmare â€" facilities, management, staffing, customers…
All films were shown using tired old VHS equipment and a CRT projector. The manager did not have the resources (or know-how) to upgrade to a DVD player and movies. To him, VHS was probably state-of-the-art technology!
I recall one VHS deck being located up in the projection room, which was used mostly for storage, filled wall-to-wall with VHS tapes, piled everywhere.
Every time a movie ended, one of the theatre employees (i.e. “security” monitors) would be sent upstairs to put in the next tape. If the manager was working alone, there would be a empty screen and a wait of several minutes, as the old man needed time to hobble upstairs to change tapes!
The Flagship Pussycat Theatre in West Hollywood was once equipped with a full Dolby Stereo system (a CP-50). During the 70’s & 80’s when they were paying union projectionists to run the adult houses. During that time if you were just starting out in the local, you got your start with a shift or two at an adult theatre. Those adult theatres were just worn out, the equipment and the theatre.
“Many”? I’m betting ALL.